The rare jewel of Christian contentment. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to…The rare jevvel of Christian contentment. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to…

First, You must know that we are not to choose our own rod that God shall beat us with.

Secondly, it may be if it were any other then it is, it were not so fit for thee as this is, it may be therefore God chooses it because it is the most cross to thee, as seeing it most suitable for the purging out of that humour that is in thee. If a patient comes to take physic and finds himself sick by it, shall he say Oh! if it were any other potion I could bear it, it may be if it were any other then it is it would not fit thy disease, yea if it did not work as it doth it would not fit the disease, so when thou sayest of an affliction, if it were any other then it is thou couldest bear it, do but answer thy self with this, it may be if it were any other then it is it would not be fit for me. It would not hit right to that sinful humour that there is in my soul, and therefore God sees this to be the fittest and the most suitable for me.

Secondly, it may be if it were any other then it is, it were not so fit for thee as this is, it may be therefore God chooses it because it is the most crosse to thee, as seing it most sutable for the purging out of that humour that is in thee. If a patient comes to take phisick and finds himselfe sick by it, shall he say Oh! if it were any other potion I could bear it, it may be if it were any other then it is it would not fit thy disease, yea if it did not work as it doth it would not fit the disease, so when thou saiest of an affliction, if it were any other then it is thou couldest bear it, doe but answer thy selfe with this, it may be if it were any other then it is it would not be fit for me. It would not hit right to that sinfull humour that there is in my soul, and therefore God sees this to be the fittest and the most sutable for me.

Thirdly, Know that this is the excellency of grace in a Christian to be fitted for any condition, not only to say if it were this or that, but if it be any. As now a Mariner if he hath skill he would not say if it were any other wind but this, if the wind did blow in any point but in this, I could tell how to manage my ship I could show skill in other points but not in this, would not Mariners laugh at such a one? it would be a shame for him to say that he hath skill in any other points but this: So it should be a shame for a Christian to say that he hath skill in any other affliction but this, a Christian should be able to manage his ship if the wind blow any way; to guide his soul any way.